Frank de Boer won his first game as Palace manager in a 3-1 pre-season friendly win at Maidstone.

He promised to give the club's youngsters a chance and did just that, asking U23 boss Ricahrd Shaw to put out a young team.

The kids did him proud and came away comfortable winners, although it was Jordon Mutch, the only first team squad man who played, who grabbed a brace.

Youngster Jacob Berkeley grabbed the third after Joe Piggot had equalised for Maidstone. The likes of Levi Lumeka, Jason Lokilo, Andre Coker, Kian Flanagan and Tyler Brown all impressed for the young Eagles.

De Boer was pleased with what he saw and is planning more opportunities for the kids.

He told the Croydon Advertiser: "I think it was very good. The fist half I think was the most important for a good start. I saw some very good things I think Richard [Shaw, U23 boss] did a very good job to get them in the shape that you want to see.

"So I’m very happy with the performance today and looking forward to some of the [young] players joining in with first team training and getting that experience

"We already had some inside information on who they are but you want to see them in a game and I think they confirmed what has been said, that there are some good talented players and in the future maybe hopefully be first-team players.

"It’s what the club want and it’s what I want. First you look to the academy and then out from there.

"If there is no talent right now on that specific spot then you look further but we were always going to look to the academy to give them a chance.

"They did some very good things that we want to see. We spoke about what we want but they have already shown a lot of progress.

"Of course there are details and things where they can get better but for the first time they have played this [way] it’s a very good compliment for the boys."